News & Analysis as of

Public Utility State and Local Government

Foley Hoag LLP - Energy & Climate Counsel

Massachusetts DPU Approves Utilities’ Electric Sector Modernization Plans

On August 29, 2024, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (“DPU”) issued a highly anticipated order approving the Electric Sector Modernization Plans (“ESMPs”) filed by the three Massachusetts electric distribution...more

Foley Hoag LLP - Energy & Climate Counsel

MA Environmental Justice Strategy Presents New Policies to Combat Statewide Environmental Injustice

On February 15, 2024, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) released Massachusetts’ inaugural Environmental Justice Strategy (“EJ Strategy”), a comprehensive set of initiatives and...more

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

Beyond Inverse Condemnation in Wildfire Litigation: An Oregon Jury Finds Utility Liable for Negligence, Trespass and Nuisance

On June 10, 2023, a jury in Portland, Oregon found PacifiCorp and Pacific Power (collectively, “PacifiCorp”) liable for negligence, trespass, and nuisance based on a series of four wildfires that occurred during Labor Day...more

Verrill

Maine PUC Asked to Fix “Leapfrogging” Problem Triggered by 2022 Changes to Maine’s Generator Interconnection Rule

Verrill on

The Maine Public Utilities Commission is currently considering whether to commence a formal emergency rulemaking process to amend Chapter 324 of its rules governing generator interconnections. The purpose of the rulemaking...more

Butler Snow LLP

General Assembly of Georgia Legislative Changes Impacting Public Works Contracts – 2022

Butler Snow LLP on

During the 2022 Regular Session of the General Assembly of Georgia, the Legislature enacted legislation that impacts public works contracts. Ultimately, these revisions to O.C.G.A. §§ 13-10-80 & 81 appear most favorable to...more

Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP

New Jersey BPU Grants Transition Incentive Program Deadline Extension for Registered Solar Projects Under Narrow Circumstances

What You Need to Know •The New Jersey BPU has created a narrow opportunity for granting conditional six-month extensions of time to complete certain mature solar projects registered in the Transition Incentive (TI)...more

Verrill

Maine Public Utilities Commission to Receive Bids for Northern Maine Transmission and Renewable Generation Projects

Verrill on

On or before May 2, 2022, the Maine Public Utilities Commission has requested bids for proposed transmission and generation resources that would boost energy exports from northern Maine. The northern Maine region has long...more

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP

Gold Dome Report – Legislative Day 23 2022

The Georgia House put in a full day on Thursday, taking up twelve propositions across two Rules Calendars before adjourning near 4PM. Representatives unanimously approved a bill strengthening Georgia’s Childhood Lead Exposure...more

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

Comprehensive Oregon Wildfire Legislation Reaffirms and Expands Utility Obligations

After a horrible wildfire season in 2020, this year's wildfire season is off to an even earlier start in Oregon and across the West. The fires have been making national news seemingly every day, with record-breaking "heat...more

Verrill

Patrick Scully Nominated to Maine PUC

Verrill on

On May 24, Governor Janet Mills nominated attorney Patrick Scully, who was most recently the Chief Executive Officer of Bernstein Shur, to serve a six-year term on the Maine Public Utilities Commission. For over 36 years,...more

Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC

Vermont Legislative Update Week 11 | Government and Public Affairs

House passes budget, directs federal relief money - The House gave unanimous final approval on Friday to a $7 billion state budget that includes a general framework for spending a large portion of the $1.3 billion...more

Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC

Vermont Legislative Update Week 10 | Government and Public Affairs

Vermont's business community unites in opposition to unemployment insurance bill - Vermont business groups joined together this week in strong opposition to an unemployment insurance bill, S.10, that was approved last...more

Mayer Brown

More Polar Vortex 2021 Fallout: 2nd PUCT Commr. Resigns, Lt. Gov. Calls on PUCT or ERCOT to "Fix" $16B "Error"

Mayer Brown on

On March 8, 2021, Commissioner Shelly Botkin resigned immediately from the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), leaving the PUCT with only one sitting commissioner. Somewhat unusually, under Texas’ Public Utility...more

Mayer Brown

More Polar Vortex 2021 Fallout (and Texas Two-Step): Monitor for ERCOT Identifies Improper Payments for Ancillary Services and...

Mayer Brown on

On March 1, 2021, Potomac Economics, the Independent Market Monitor (IMM) for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), filed a report with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) that certain payments were...more

Cozen O'Connor

Marijuana Legalization Push May Impact PA Utilities’ Zero Tolerance Policies

Cozen O'Connor on

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, in his 2021 budget address on February 3, 2021, again pressed the Pennsylvania Legislature to legalize adult-use recreational marijuana. His recommendation stems from a report by Lieutenant...more

Cozen O'Connor

What is This? The Importance of Procedure in Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Proceedings

Cozen O'Connor on

In a recent case in the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), a party filed a petition for issuance of an interim emergency order pursuant to 52 Pa. Code § 3.6. ...more

Foley Hoag LLP - Energy & Climate Counsel

Deadline Approaching for Comments on Proposal to Reform Distribution System Planning and Allocation of Interconnection Costs

When the Massachusetts DPU opened docket DPU 20-75, I described it as a proposal to fundamentally change system planning and cost allocation in Massachusetts. The interconnection process in Massachusetts has been a perpetual...more

Foley Hoag LLP - Energy & Climate Counsel

Department of Public Utilities Proposes Rethink for Distribution System Planning and Interconnection Costs

On October 22, the Massachusetts DPU issued an Order opening a new docket (DPU 20-75) that seeks comments on a proposal to shake up the way the electric distribution system is planned and paid for in Massachusetts. As I see...more

Cozen O'Connor

Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Enters Phase 2 of the Moratorium on Utility Shut-Offs

Cozen O'Connor on

In March, 2020, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) unanimously issued an emergency order that generally prohibited Pennsylvania electric, natural gas, water, wastewater, telecommunications, and steam utilities...more

Cozen O'Connor

NJBPU Approves Year 2 Application Process for Community Solar Energy Pilot Program

Cozen O'Connor on

In developments of interest to New Jersey electric utilities, solar developers, subscriber organizations, and eligible consumers, on October 2, 2020, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) moved forward with New...more

Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP

New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Announces Opening of Year 2 of the Community Solar Program

On October 2, 2020, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (Board) announced the opening of the second year of the Community Solar Program (PY2) as well as various changes from Program Year 1 (PY1) of the program. The...more

Cozen O'Connor

The DAS Networks Fault Line: A Coming Earthquake in Pennsylvania Administrative Law?

Cozen O'Connor on

On July 21, 2020, a unanimous Supreme Court of Pennsylvania issued its decision in Crown Castle NG East LLC and Pennsylvania-CLE LLC v. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, 2 MAP 2019 (July 21, 2020). Reversing the...more

Foley Hoag LLP - Energy & Climate Counsel

Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities Investigates Advanced Metering and Time-Varying Rates for Customers with Electric...

On July 2, 2020, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities launched an “Investigation into the Modernization of the Electric Grid – Phase Two.”  In this investigation, the DPU will look again at deploying advanced...more

Lowenstein Sandler LLP

Residential Evictions: What Tenants Need to Know

Lowenstein Sandler LLP on

LOCKOUTS Can I be locked out of my home during the COVID-19 emergency? No. On March 19, 2020, New Jersey Governor Philip Murphy issued Executive Order 106, which immediately suspends evictions throughout the state. This...more

Nossaman LLP

CPUC Proceedings on Low-Income Customer Assistance and Affordability

Nossaman LLP on

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) recently took action in two proceedings addressing issues related to low-income customer assistance and affordability. The CPUC noted that the importance of these proceedings...more

50 Results
 / 
View per page
Page: of 2

"My best business intelligence, in one easy email…"

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra:
*By using the service, you signify your acceptance of JD Supra's Privacy Policy.
- hide
- hide